Protective sheath for insulating pipe covering



fb. 4, 1969 A. SCHIBIG I 3,425,456

PROTECTIVE SHEATH FOR INSULATING PIPE COVERING Filed Aug. 21, 1967 3,425,456 PROTECTIVE SHEATH FOR INSULATING PIPE COVERING Arthur Schibig, 19, Ottostrasse 8005, Zurich, Switzerland Filed Aug. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 662,074 Claims priority, application Switzerland, May 17, 1967,

6,950/ 67 US. Cl. 138-162 3 Claims Int. Cl. F161 9/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to insulated pipes, and relates more particularly to protective sheathing for insulated pipe coverings.

For the protection of insulating pipe covering, it is imperative to provide a sheathing, to conserve the insulating qualities of the covering. Sheathing of this type may be composed of a bandage enveloping the covering with a band, or sheathing it with a band longitudinally, and interconnecting the edges with adhesive tape.

It has been proposed to provide such sheathing made of synthetic plastic material, but this has proved to be time consuming and expensive in mounting. Furthermore, the protective sheathing for the various fittings, such as elbows, Ts crosses, branches and couplings, have heretofore been uneven and unesthetic.

It is accordingly among the principal objects of the invention to provide a protective sheathing for insulating pipe covering that avoids the drawbacks of the prior art, is practical, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to mount, and of pleasing appearance.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following specification and in part will be obvious therefrom without being specifially referred to, the same being realized and attained as pointed out in the claims hereof.

Generally, the instant invention provides for a protective sheath for insulating pipe covering in which two similar half-shells with latching means near their edges complete a shell; when so completed, the latching means hold the half-shells together.

The sheath is independent of the material chosen for the pipe covering, and independent of whether the covering is in the form of shells or stuffing or mats, or the like.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational extended view of two half-shells ready to be interconnected;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of two adjoining hollow half-shell members, the end portions of which are shown in overlapping relationship;

FIG. 3 is a large scale sectional view taken on the line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing parts of two opposite half-shells interengaged;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the parts disenageged;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a hollow half-shell for an insulating covered elbow pipe fitting;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a hollow half-shell for an insulating covered T pipe fitting; .and

United States Patent 0 3,425,456 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a hollow half-shell for an insulating covered reduction coupling pipe fitting.

In carrying the invention into effect in the embodiments which have been selected for illustration in the accompanying dnawings and for description in this specification, and referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there are provided two half-shells 1 and 1 for a piece of insulating covered straight pipe. Each half-shell 1, 1' is hollow, and the two half-shells 1 and 1' are identical in shape, and may be placed opposite each other to complete a shell 1. Each shell forms a member and the members complete the protective sheathing. The shells 1 are members for straight pipes; they are interconnected by means of connecting members 2 (FIG. 2). Other members are elbow members 3 (FIG. 6), T members 4 (FIG. 7) and reducing coupling members 5 (FIG. 8). Members for other fittings may similarly be provided, though they have not been shown in the drawings.

Each completed shell 1 for a straight piece of pipe is composed of two identical half-shells 1, 1'; each halfshell has opposite median edges between its arcuate end portions. Along these edges there are provided latching means that include connecting hooks 6, 6. As best shown in FIG. 3, each hook 6 near one median edge is directed inwardly and has a counterpart near the other median edge, namely a hook 6 that, however, is directed outwardly. The hooks 6 and 6' as shown in FIG. 1, alternate along each median edge, so that alternatingly one hook is directed outwardly and the next inwardly along said edge.

Due to this arrangement, it is possible to provide for most members merely half-shells, and to unite each two half-shells into a completed shell, simpl by turning around one half-shell as compared to the other (see FIG. 3) and by placing them opposite each other, and by finally pushing them towards each other (see FIG. 5) until they snap into interlatching engagement (see FIG. 4).

In the preceding description, the half-shells that complete a shell for most members have been termed to be identical. Actually, although these half-shells will come off a production line, they will not strictly be identical, as there may be small differences within permissible tolerances. For this reason, the half-shells are sometimes termed herein as merely being similar, rather than identical.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, one of each pair of interengaging hooks, for instance, each hook 6 may .be provided with an inclined surface 7 to facilitate the snapping together with its latching partner hook 6' (see FIGS. 1 and 2); when the two half-shells 1 and 1 have been snapped together, they cannot be self-released. The interengagement between the half-shells 1 and 1' provides for good joining along the median edges, and

for reliable latching (FIG. 4).

Where several members are needed for sheathing a long piece of straight pipe, several shells 1 may be used are interconnected by connecting members 2; each connecting member 2, like the member 1, is also formed of two half-shells. The half-shells of the connecting member 2 are also provided with books 6, 6' for interengagement. The two arcuate end portions of the connecting member 2 are provided with recessed tubular shoulders that, as shown in FIG. 2, fit in overlapping relationship into the arcuate thinned sleeve end portions of the members 1, providing for a smooth joint. This overlapping relation ship permits an excellent connection between the members 1 and 2. If desired, adhesive strips may be mounted on the outside of these overlapping end portions, for sealing. Without adhesive strips, the overlapping end portions serve to compensate for any changes in length.

The member 3 (FIG. 6), like the member 1, also is composed of two half-shells, though only one half-shell The arrangement of the member 4 (FIG. 7) in most respects is similar to that of the member 3 (FIG. 6), except that again like in connection with the members 1 or 2, identical or rather similar half-shells may be used. Like in the member 4, the end portions are provided with recessed tubular shoulders to be placed in overlapping relationship into the thinned sleeve end portions of other members, such as the members 1.

The member (FIG. 8) is also composed of two similar half-shells, although only one is shown in the drawing. It serves to protect a reduction coupling fitting, and has near its larger diameter a thinned sleeve end portion, and near its smaller diameter a recessed tubular shoulder, for appropriate overlapping connection with respective other members.

During mounting, the respective half-shells are placed in proper opposite positions, and then pressed together so that the hooks 6 and 6' Will complete a snap engagement, thereby forming hollow shells from the half-shells. The connection between adjoining members is accomplished by means of overlapping end portions as shown, for instance, in FIG. 2. As previously indicated, adhesive strips (not shown) may be mounted on the overlapping end portions.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. As an article of manufacture, a protective sheath, for use with an insulating pipe covering, said sheath being composed of synthetic plastic material and comprising two half-shells of the same shape and being adapted to be placed opposite each other to complete a hollow shell, each half-shell having two opposite edges between the ends, said half-shells including near said edges latching means adapted for interengagement when said half-shells are assembled to complete said shell, said latching means on each half-shell comprising along each of said edges alternating inwardly and outwardly directed hooks spaced apart from each other, each inwardly directed hook near one edge being disposed opposite an outwardly directed hook near the other edge, each inwardly directed hook of one half-shell adapted to engage a correspondingly outwardly directed hook of the other half-shell when the shell is completed, whereby each interengaging pair of hooks restrains the disengagement of the next adjoining interengaging hook pair when said half-shells have been assembled to complete the shell.

2. An article of manufacture, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each half-shell has two arcu'ate end portions each adapted to be in overlapping relation with a next adjoining half-shell.

3. An article of manufacture, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of each pair of hooks to be engaged has an inclined surface promoting snap engagement between the hooks of the pier when the half-shells are brought together to complete the shell.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 521,143 3/1921 France. 984,179 2/ 1965 Great Britain. 571,894 1/1958 Italy.

DARRELL L. CLAY, Primary Examiner.

Us. 01. X.R. 

